Why Are There Bubbles or Blisters on a Flat Roof? You look across a flat roof and notice: raised bubbles in the membrane. They may be small. Or they may look like large pockets. These raised areas are often described as: Blisters. They can form when: Moisture Air Vapour becomes trapped beneath part of the
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Does Dark Vinyl Siding Fade Faster? Dark siding has become extremely popular. Charcoal. Deep blue. Black. Iron grey. The look is dramatic. But homeowners often worry: “Will it fade?” The answer depends on much more than colour alone. Dark Surfaces Absorb More Solar Energy Darker exterior surfaces generally absorb more sunlight. That can increase surface
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Does Blown-In Attic Insulation Settle Over Time? You open the attic hatch and think: “Wasn’t the insulation higher before?” Possibly. Some loose-fill insulation can settle after installation. But settlement by itself does not automatically mean the attic has a problem. The important question is: Does the attic still have the amount of insulation required for
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How Far Should Downspouts Extend From Your Foundation? Your gutter collects the water. Your downspout carries it down. Then the water gets dumped right beside the house. That’s not a complete drainage system. The real job is: Move water away from the building. A common practical guideline is to discharge roof water several feet away
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How Many Downspouts Does Your House Actually Need? Your gutters are clean. They’re properly pitched. But during heavy rain, water still struggles to leave quickly. The issue may not be the eavestrough. It may be the number of exits. Downspouts are what move collected roof water out of the gutter system. A long gutter with
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Can Walking on Your Asphalt Roof Damage the Shingles? You need to: Clean something Check a vent Take a photo Hang holiday lights So you walk across the roof. How much harm can a few steps really cause? The answer depends on: Roof condition Temperature Footwear How much traffic occurs IKO identifies foot traffic as
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What Is Shingle Exposure? Look at an asphalt roof. You don’t see the entire shingle. Most of each piece is hidden underneath the course above it. The section you actually see is called its: Exposure. IKO defines shingle exposure as the portion left uncovered by the shingle installed above it. It sounds like an appearance
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Can Hail Damage Your Roof Without Leaving Obvious Damage? A hailstorm passes. Your shingles are still there. Nothing is hanging from the gutter. No water is dripping from the ceiling. So the roof must be fine. Not necessarily. GAF specifically warns that not all hail damage is immediately visible, particularly from ground level. Hail can
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Step Flashing vs. Counter-Flashing: What’s the Difference? Roof shingles work best when water can flow down an uninterrupted slope. Homes rarely give them that luxury. Roofs meet: Walls Dormers Chimneys Other vertical surfaces Those intersections need additional water-management details. Two terms you’ll often hear are step flashing and counter-flashing. They are related. They are not
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What Are Starter Shingles? When you look at an asphalt roof, you see rows of finished shingles. What you usually don’t see is the special material installed underneath the first row. That’s the: Starter strip. Starter shingles are installed along vulnerable roof edges before the main field shingles. GAF describes starter strips as roofing components
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